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2001-12-13 | 4:58 p.m.

corduroy licorice isolated the gene that causes annoyance in all human beings. he cornered the obnoxious little brat on the playground when no one else was around and told him that if he didn't straighten up, he'd be history. let's just say, gene mended his ways real quick-like.

***

i have no psychic abilities, but i can predict academy award winners like nobody's business. well, let me adjust that bold statement. i can identify "best picture" winners like nobody's business.

it'll come to me in a flash as i'm watching the film. it happened in the english patient during the scene where juliet binoche is being pulleyed aloft by her turbaned love interest in a darkened italian church, holding a flare up to see the gorgeous murals on the walls. the sight of her soaring like peter pan among the smoke and sparks to come within kissing distance of those solemn, aged, painted faces was breath-taking. at that moment i knew. "this is going to win best picture."

same story with the plastic bag scene in american beauty. as the synthetic specter swirled up against the brick wall in a waft of dust and debris, i knew. the way you know about a good melon.

i had a similar moment during forrest gump, too, but can't remember during which scene for the life of me.

this year i didn't have a watershed "oscar moment" during a film, although i've seen a few amazing movies that deserve the shiny little statuette.

one of those films is the man who wasn't there. although ameli� stole my heart, the man who wasn't there got me thinking and stayed with me. in the echoes of my mind.

i think one of the reasons is that its quiet power reverberates. it's so subtle and stoic while you're watching it, you don't know what hit you until afterwards.

one of the things i've got stuck in my craw is the unique way the coen brothers named their characters. it seems to me that like dickens, their characters' names are more than just handles...they kinda describe their personality characteristics. so allow me to share my noodlings here. i remember in high school english classes we were pushed to ferret out the symbolism dwelling within the stories and books we read, so i'm gonna try to make my former teachers proud...at the risk of boring you. *insert the simpsons' signature bully's noise here: he-heeh* if you aren't into it, as ed crane would say, "skip it."

ed crane

ed = the shortest name a fella can have...marking his insignificance in the world

crane defined as:

1. a machine to hoist or move heavy objects

2. to strain and stretch (the neck, for example) in order to see better.

in the film, ed seems to be as emotionless as a machine, burdened as he tries to move the heavy objects weighing him down. he is also straining to see a better life ahead.

doris crane

doris...hmm, i'm not so sure about this one, but "doris" sounds like "doors"...which she opened and closed for ed in his life.

creighton tolliver

creighton = cretin = an idiot

yep, he was an idiot.

freddy riedenschneider

schneider = in german, means tailor

a character who tailors "the truth" to fit his tastes.

nirdlinger

nerd = foolish, inept, or unattractive person

linger = to remain feebly alive for some time before dying

birdy abundas

birdy = freedom to fly

abundas = abundance

in the film, she represents freedom of choice and a future full of abundance to ed.

so now i've said my peace. maybe i'm way off and would crack joel and ethan up by reading too much into it. whatever the names, the movie is a modern masterpiece.

from the way billy bob's stillness was anything but peaceful to the fact that he was inspired by the sonatas of beethoven...a man who could only hear beautiful music in his head. and then there was the last moment's dolly shot focusing on the hairlines of an audience. true brilliance. i can't narrow it down to a moment, but this baby deserves lots of gold-plated, nekkid, scepter holders, it does, it does. "best picture" will probably be written on one them.

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take a peek at these - (c) 2000-2003 nictate:

health tip
2005-03-16

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2005-03-16

moving house
2004-11-19

quibbling with quitherfeather
2004-11-17

catcher in the wry
2004-11-16